Actor-producers

Venerable actor Clint Eastwood now also has an extensive producing career, stepping behind the scenes on movies like “J. Edgar,” “Gran Torino,” “Flags of Our Fathers” and “Million Dollar Baby.” He also produced “Trouble with the Curve,” which he stars in with Amy Adams and Justin Timberlake, whom he’s pictured with at the after-party for the movie’s LA premiere.
A plethora of actors are following in Eastwood’s footsteps, with some not even old enough to drink setting up their own production companies and inking deals with studios like Warner Bros.

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Will Ferrell has long produced his own movies with partner Adam McKay through their Gary Sanchez Productions banner. Ferrell’s co-star and on-screen rival in “The Campaign,” Zach Galifianakis recently joined the party, helping to produce the political comedy.

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Steve Carell not only starred in “Crazy, Stupid Love,” he also produced the romantic comedy through his Carousel Productions banner. In fact, the movie was the first release from his company, which, in 2008, set up a three-year first-look deal with “Crazy, Stupid, Love’s” distributor Warner Bros. Here, he makes the scene at the “Crazy, Stupid, Love” premiere.

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Natalie Portman made a big splash as an actor-producer in 2011, releasing three movies that she produced, including the box-office smash “No Strings Attached,” the premiere of which she’s attending in the photo above. Portman’s Handsomecharlie Films, which she set up with pal Annette Savitch, has four movies in development including a potential starring vehicle opposite Brad Pitt and the much-discussed “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.” She told Vogue this past January that she wants to make vulgar, female-centric comedies similiar to the kinds of movies made by Judd Apatow.

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As “High School Musical” alum Zac Efron tries to establish himself as a grown-up actor, the actor has already set up his own production company, Ninjas Runnin’ Wild with manager Jason Barrett. He has a two-year production deal with Warner Bros. and office space on the studio lot, but Efron’s company hasn’t yet started filming any of the projects it has in development. Here, he shows off a more mature hairstyle at the release of Ashley Tisdale’s “Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure.”

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Selena Gomez has had her own production company since the young singer/actress was old enough to drive. Like Efron, she’s yet to release a movie under her July Moon banner, run by her mom and stepfather. But Universal reportedly recently acquired the rights to the book “13 Reasons Why” as a starring vehicle for her. Here, she poses at the premiere of her 2011 movie, “Monte Carlo,” produced by another actress, Nicole Kidman.

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20-year-old Taylor Lautner has formed a production company with his father called Quick Six Entertainment. Their first film was last fall’s “Abduction,” which he’s seen here filming in Pittsburgh.

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Drew Barrymore is one of the rare young stars who’s proven that production pacts with talent can be real business ventures, not just vanity deals. Barrymore began producing with 1999’s “Never Been Kissed,” when she was in her early 20s, and has since produced a major film nearly every year. Here, the savvy businesswoman arrives at a party for another one of her deals–with CoverGirl.

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Jennifer Garner, seen here looking regal at a BAFTA gala in Los Angeles attended by Prince William and Kate Middleton, has a first-look deal with Warner Bros. Her production debut will be with the upcoming “Butter,” set to be released this year, but her company, Vandalia Films, has six projects in development, including a “Miss Marple” re-make.–By Hilary Lewis